ROTARY STEERABLE SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL DRILLING

• US 20140262507A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Marson, Daniel Andrew, Sullivan, Daniel Mark, Pagett, John Mackinley
• Application Number:
  US13/797,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20140262507A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/24
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/1014 Flexible or expansible centering means, e.g. with pistons pressing against the wall of the well E21B17/1042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 45/00 Measuring the drilling time or rate of penetration
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/18 through the well fluid , e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/062 the tool shaft rotating inside a non-rotating guide travelling with the shaft E21B7/067 and E21B7/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/10 Correction of deflected boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A rotary steerable drilling system that is operable to drill vertical wellbores and automatically maintain a vertical wellbore drilling path. The system includes a control module for operating solenoid valves that control an amount of fluid pressure applied to bias pad piston/cylinders. The control module is operable to determine when the system is deviating from vertical, in what direction the system is deviating, and where the bias pads are in relation to the direction of deviation. Based on these determinations, the control module actuates the requisite bias pads by controlling the amount of fluid pressure applied to the bias pad piston/cylinders to direct the system back to the vertical drilling path.

Claims

1. A drilling system, comprising:

a control valve;

a control module configured to actuate the control valve;

a slip ring configured to transmit an electronic signal from the control module to the control valve, while the control module rotates relative to the control valve;

a bias pad having a piston that is in fluid communication with the control valve, wherein actuation of the control valve controls an amount of fluid pressure applied to the piston.

2. A method of forming a wellbore, comprising:

drilling a wellbore along a vertical trajectory using a drilling system;

monitoring any deviation from the vertical trajectory of the wellbore;

determining that the drilling system has deviated from the vertical trajectory;

determining a highside of the wellbore;

determining a position of bias pads of the drilling system; and

actuating at least one of the bias pads to force the drilling system toward the vertical trajectory.